It’s spooky season and cats, especially black cats, are often a part of the Halloween festivities. While cats aren’t evil, some cat behavior can be quite scary. One of the scarier cat behaviors is aggression. Aggression in cats can occur for a number of reasons, from a cat attempting to play to being petted too much. One of the most confusing forms of aggression is something called redirected aggression.
Redirected aggression in cats can happen towards humans, other cats, dogs, or other animals in the home. How do you spot it and what can you do?
What Is Redirected Aggression In Cats?
Starting on a basic level, redirected aggression in cats is when a cat exhibits an aggressive behavior, such as scratching or biting, toward something or someone other than the source of the aggressive behavior. It’s similar to if you’ve ever had a bad day and taken it out by yelling at your partner, a friend, or even your cat.
What Causes Redirected Aggression?
Aggression may occur due to fear or frustration. If the cat becomes aroused by a squirrel they can’t chase due to being indoors, for example, they may bite or chase after you or another cat in the home because you are the closest thing to them. While “cat TV” (using a bird feeder to draw birds to your yard or putting on videos of animals for your cat) can be a form of enrichment for some cats, it should always supplement interactive play.
Similarly, if a cat walks by outdoors, your cat may feel their territory is threatened and aggress toward anyone who happens to be nearby. Other cats are the most common trigger of redirected aggression. Cats don’t necessarily like other cats.
Is It Ghosts?
Thankfully, it can be pretty easy to tell if your cat has redirected aggression if you can find an obvious trigger. However, sometimes redirected aggression in cats isn’t always the clear problem if you don’t know the trigger. And no, it’s not ghosts causing the aggression.
I’ve had clients whose cats are aggressing but they can’t figure out what is triggering it. Sometimes the cat will give an indirect clue with their behavior or body language. For example, some clients’ cats have shown a flehmen response, a grimace like behavior cats show in response to detecting pheromones from other cats, near a door. While they hadn’t seen a cat outside before, I had them set up a motion detection camera outdoors. Sure enough, within a few nights most of them found out they had feline visitors in the night.
What Can You Do About Redirected Aggression?
If you suspect redirected aggression is the cause of your cat’s aggressive behavior, you always want to separate your cat from other humans or animals in the home until they have a chance to calm down. Some cats will calm down quickly, but some cats will need a few hours or longer. Never stick your hands near a cat that may redirect toward you. You also don’t want to make noises or do anything to scare your cat as it may increase their arousal. That will put you at risk of worse aggression.
Redirected aggression in cats is best handled in the moment by using a solid barrier such as a flattened cardboard box, couch cushion, or anything else you can use to gently guide your cat to a different room using a similar method to breaking up a cat fight.
Remove The Source
Don’t worry, we’ve already established it’s not ghosts so Casper can stay. Call off the exorcist!
Ultimately, the solution to the problem is to remove the source of your cat’s stress. That may mean installing a humane cat proof fence, working to reduce tension between cats, or, in extreme cases, rehoming a cat. Redirected aggression in cats can be tough to resolve if you can’t remove the source, but there may be ways to separate your cat from the source of stress. Adding a window privacy film over any windows your cat may see an outdoor cat from. You can even get a fun stained glass privacy film if you want to add a bit of color!
Redirect Your Cat’s Redirected Aggression
In some cases, redirected aggression in cats can be successfully redirected. This is generally helpful in situations where your cat is aroused by something they want to hunt outside like birds or a squirrel. It can often be seen in cats that aren’t getting enough play in, especially in high energy cats like Bengals. In these cases, get your cat’s favorite toy out and direct them to the toy.
Redirected aggression in cats can be tough to resolve, but it is possible. If these tricks don’t work, it’s possible you might need another intervention or there may be another cause of your cat’s aggressive behavior. Contact your vet or set up a consultation with me and we’ll figure out what to do!
